JPH0643339A - Automatic coupling device for optical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the breakdown of a guide pin to couple an optical connector and the damage of a mechanism from occurring without using a complicated control mechanism. CONSTITUTION:The guide pin 20 mounted on an optical connector 5 by moving a moving mechanism 12 in a direction of Y-axis and an insertion mechanism 11 in a direction of Z-axis is inserted to the guide pin hole 4 of a fixed side optical connector 2, thereby, the optical connector 5 can be coupled with the optical connector 2. When the guide pin 20 is inserted a contact 22 is retracted, and a guide pin insertion sensor 24 is turned on, and movement in the direction of X-axis and Y-axis are interrupted. When the guide pin 20 comes into contact with a fixing member 1 at a wrong address position, the guide pin 20 is retracted, and a guide pin sensor 21 is turned on, which interrupts the advancing of the optical connector 5 i.e., the operation of the insertion mechanism 11.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical connector automatic coupling device, which is devised to improve safety and reliability when coupling an optical connector using a guide pin.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an optical switch device and an optical connector measuring device, one moving side optical connector is attached to and detached from a large number of fixed side fixed optical connectors. Generally, the movable side optical connector is provided with a guide pin, and the fixed side optical connector is formed with a guide pin hole. At the time of coupling, the guide pin is guided so as to be inserted into the guide pin hole, and the movable side and fixed side optical connectors are coupled while ensuring high positional accuracy. In this way, the optical connector automatic coupling device is used to automatically attach / detach the moving side optical connector to / from the fixed side optical connector.

FIG. 8 shows a conventional optical connector automatic coupling device. As shown in the figure, a plurality of fixed-side optical connectors 2 are fixedly installed on the fixing member 1. An optical fiber 3 is connected to each fixed-side optical connector 2 and a guide pin hole 4 is formed. ing. On the other hand, an optical fiber 6 is connected to the moving side optical connector 5, and a guide pin 7 is provided. The moving side optical connector 5 is attached to the optical connector accommodating member 8, and the optical connector accommodating member 8 is attached.
Are supported by the support member 10 via the thin beam 9 made of an elastic material. The support member 10 moves in the Z-axis direction by the operation of the insertion mechanism 11, and moves in the Y-axis direction by the operation of the moving mechanism 12. Further, the support member 10 may be moved in the X-axis direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 8) by a moving mechanism (not shown).

In the optical connector measuring device, a pair of optical connectors are coupled and the coupling loss is measured. At that time, when the device shown in FIG. 8 is used, the moving side optical connector 5 serves as a master.

The moving side optical connector 5 is replaced with the fixed side optical connector 2.
First, the moving mechanism 12 is driven by servo control so that the moving side optical connector 5 faces the fixed side optical connector 2, and then the insertion mechanism 11 is driven by servo control to move. The side optical connector 5 is moved (moved forward) toward the fixed side optical connector 6. Then, the guide pin 7 is fitted into the guide pin hole 4 to guide the position, and the both optical connectors 2 and 5 are joined. In this case, since the alignment is performed using the guide pin 7 and the guide pin hole 4, the alignment accuracy is extremely high. It should be noted that a slight positional deviation when the guide pin 7 is coupled to the guide pin hole 4 is absorbed by the bending of the small-diameter beam 9.

In order to separate the optical connectors 2 and 5 which are connected to each other, the insertion mechanism 11 is operated to move (retract) the support member 10 rightward in the drawing. Then, the movable side optical connector 5 is separated from the fixed side optical connector 2.

[0007]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional optical connector automatic coupling apparatus, the state of completion of coupling or progress of coupling can be confirmed only by visual inspection or servo address. Not only is it troublesome to check the state by visual inspection or servo address, but also the guide pin 7 may be damaged due to incompleteness, or the mechanism may be impacted to deteriorate the mechanism.

A concrete example of such a problem is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.
Shown in. FIG. 9 shows an example in which the guide pin 7 is broken because the moving mechanism 12 is inadvertently actuated to move the moving side optical connector 5 in the Y-axis direction at the time of coupling. In FIG. 10, since the moving side optical connector 5 is moved forward at an incorrect position instead of at a regular address, the guide pin 7 collides with the fixed member 1, the guide pin 7 is broken, and the supporting member 10 and the mechanisms 11 and 12 are broken. Here's an example that gives a shock to.

In view of the above-mentioned prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide an optical connector automatic coupling device which can couple optical connectors with high reliability without using a complicated control mechanism.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The structure of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems includes a movable side optical connector having a fixed side optical connector having guide pin holes formed therein and guide pins fitted into the guide pin holes. An optical connector accommodating member for accommodating the movable side optical connector for coupling, an insertion mechanism for moving the movable side optical connector forward and backward with respect to the fixed side optical connector through the optical connector accommodating member, and the optical connector accommodating member. In an optical connector automatic coupling device including a moving mechanism that moves a moving-side optical connector through a member in a direction orthogonal to a forward / backward moving direction, and a control circuit unit that controls operations of an insertion mechanism and a moving mechanism. When a guide pin collides, it is equipped with a mechanism that detects that the guide pin has collided and a mechanism that detects that the guide pin is inserted in the guide pin hole. Stops moving the optical connector on the moving side, and when the guide pin is inserted into the guide pin hole, stops moving the optical connector on the moving side in a direction other than the insertion direction (forward / backward moving direction). It is characterized by

[0011]

In the present invention, when the guide pin collides with the fixing member or the like due to the displacement of the address position, the advance of the fixed side optical connector is stopped. Further, when the guide pin is inserted into the guide pin hole, the movement in the direction orthogonal to the insertion direction is stopped so as not to cause the positional deviation.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to the portions that perform the same functions as those of the conventional technique.

FIG. 1 shows a mechanical system of an optical connector automatic coupling device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the fixed side optical connector 2 to which the optical fiber 3 is connected and the guide pin hole 4 is formed is fixedly installed on the fixing member 1. On the other hand, the optical fiber 6 is connected and attached to the optical connector accommodating member 8, and the narrow beam 9 and the supporting member 1 are also provided.
The moving side optical connector 5 supported by 0 moves by the operation of the insertion mechanism 11 and the moving mechanism 12.

The guide pin 20 is inserted into the movable optical connector 5 so as to be movable in the Z-axis direction, that is, in the forward / backward moving direction (insertion direction) of the movable optical connector 5.
The rear end of the guide pin 20 (the right end in the drawing) has a large diameter, and a guide pin contact sensor 21 is provided in contact with the rear portion of the rear end of the guide pin 20. In this embodiment, a limit switch having a mechanical lever is used as the guide pin contact sensor 21, but other position detecting elements,
For example, a non-contact type switch as shown in FIG. 2 may be used. In addition, the guide pin 20 of the present invention has one end having a larger diameter than the conventional guide pin 7, so that when the connector side is released and the moving side optical connector 5 is pulled out, the guide pin 20 is erroneously fixed. It has an action of preventing an accident that it is left in the optical connector 2.

The guide pin 20 retreats when pushed from the front end (left end) toward the rear end (right end), and the guide pin contact sensor 21 is turned from OFF to ON as the guide pin 20 is retracted.

The contact 22 has a ring shape or a rectangular tube shape, and is fitted on the outer periphery of the optical connector accommodating member 8.
It is movable in the Z-axis direction with respect to the optical connector housing member 8. The coil spring 23 has a front end connected to the contact 22 and a rear end connected to the optical connector housing member 8. When the contact 22 is pushed from the front end toward the rear end, it retreats against the spring force of the spring 23. On the other hand, when the external force for retracting the contact 22 disappears, the spring force of the spring 23 causes the contact 22 to advance to the position where the projection 22a engages with the recess 8a of the optical connector accommodating member 8. Moreover, the contact 22
And when no external force acts on the guide pin 20,
The spring force of the spring 23 and the positions of the protrusion 22a and the recess 8a are set so that the positions of the tip of the guide pin 20 and the tip of the contact 22 are accurately aligned. The coil spring 2
Instead of 3, another type of spring or a part utilizing repulsive force due to elastic deformation may be used.

A guide pin insertion sensor 24 is provided in the recess 8a. The guide pin insertion sensor 24 is
As shown in FIG. 2 which is an AA cross section of FIG. 1, a light emitting element 24a and a light receiving element 24b provided in the optical connector accommodating member 8 are provided.
And a light shielding plate 24c provided on the contactor 22. When the contact 22 is retracted even slightly with respect to the optical connector accommodating member 8, the guide pin insertion sensor 24 is turned off.
To ON. Although a photo interrupter is used as the guide pin insertion sensor 24 in this embodiment, another position detecting element may be used.

FIG. 3 shows the circuit configuration of the optical connector automatic coupling apparatus according to the embodiment. The control circuit unit 50 includes a commercial power source 60.
It is composed of a power supply unit 51 that receives electric power from the CPU, a CPU 52, and a driver 53. The control circuit unit 50 controls the operation of the insertion mechanism 11 and the movement mechanism 12 according to the address information, and stops the operation of the mechanism 11 and the mechanism 12 according to the detection signals of the sensor 21 and the sensor 24, as described later. Let

Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described. In order to connect the moving side optical connector 5 to the fixed side optical connector 2, the control circuit section 50 first actuates the moving mechanism 12 to move the moving side optical connector 5 in the Y-axis direction to fix the moving side optical connector 5. The side optical connector 2 is opposed to the front surface. Of course, when there is a moving mechanism for moving in the X-axis direction, this moving mechanism is also operated. Next, the control circuit section 50 operates the insertion mechanism 11 to move the moving side optical connector 5 forward along the Z-axis direction to couple the moving side optical connector 5 to the fixed side optical connector 2.

When the guide pin 20 enters the guide pin hole 4 even a little at the time of coupling, the contact 22 is retracted relative to the optical connector accommodating member 8. Therefore, the guide pin insertion sensor 24 is turned on (see FIG. 4). When the guide pin insertion sensor 24 is turned on, the control circuit unit 50 stops the operation of the moving mechanism 12. Therefore, when the guide pin 20 is entering the guide pin hole 4, the moving mechanism 12 is not inadvertently actuated to move the moving side optical connector 5 in the Y-axis direction or the X-axis direction. The accident of breaking the guide pin 20 does not occur.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, when the moving side optical connector 5 is moved forward while the address position is wrong,
The tip of the guide pin 20 contacts the fixed member 1 and retracts. Therefore, the guide pin contact sensor 21 is turned on when the guide pin 20 is retracted. When the guide pin contact sensor 21 is turned on, the control circuit section 50 immediately stops the operation of the insertion mechanism 11 and stops the forward movement of the moving side optical connector 5. Therefore, breakage of the guide pin 20 and damage to the mechanism can be avoided.

Although the optical connector accommodating member 8 is supported by using the small-diameter beam 9 or the like in the above-described embodiment, other methods may be used. For example, a spring mechanism may be used instead of the small-diameter beam, and a certain pressing force may be generated at the time of connection.

6 and 7 show examples of optical fibers and connectors to which the present invention can be applied. That is, FIG.
Is a multi-core flat optical fiber 100, 101, an angular optical connector 102, 103, and two guide pins 1
04 is shown. 7 shows a single-core optical fiber 11
0, 111 and cylindrical optical connectors 112, 113 and 1
The guide pin 114 of the book is shown.

[0024]

As described above in detail with reference to the embodiments, according to the present invention, when the guide pin of the movable side optical connector is inserted into the guide pin hole of the fixed side optical connector, it is orthogonal to the inserting direction. The optical connector on the moving side stops moving in the direction, and when the optical connector on the moving side advances with the address position wrong and the tip of the guide pin comes into contact with the fixing member, the insertion is stopped. It is possible to prevent breakage of the pin and damage to the drive mechanism, improving safety and reliability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a mechanical system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an AA cross section of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a control circuit of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a mechanical system of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a mechanical system of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing an optical fiber and an optical connector to which the present invention can be applied.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an optical fiber and an optical connector.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram showing a conventional technique.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram showing a conventional technique.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram showing a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fixing member 2 Fixed side optical connector 3 Optical fiber 4 Guide pin hole 5 Moving side optical connector 6 Optical fiber 7 Guide pin 8 Optical connector accommodating member 8a Recess 9 Small diameter beam 10 Supporting member 11 Insertion mechanism 12 Moving mechanism 20 Guide pin 21 Guide pin contact sensor 22 Contact 22a Protrusion 23 Spring 24 Guide pin insertion sensor 50 Control circuit section 51 Power supply section 52 CPU 53 Driver 60 Commercial power supply

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Takeo Komiya 1 Taya-cho, Sakae-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. Yokohama Works (72) Tomomi Sano 1 Taya-cho, Sakae-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Sumitomo Electric Ki Industry Co., Ltd.Yokohama Works (72) Inventor Yoshiharu Matsui 1 Taya-cho, Sakae-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Sumitomo Electric Ki Industries Co., Ltd. Yokohama Works (72) Inventor ▲ High ▼ Sugi Hidetoshi 1-chome, Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo No. 6 Nihon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Hideki Suzuki 1-6, Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Nihon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (72) Inventor Kazuhiko Arimoto Nishimori Ota-ku, Ota-ku, Tokyo Chome 6-31 Sumiden Opcom Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An optical connector housing for housing a moving side optical connector for connecting a moving side optical connector having a guide pin fitted into the guide pin hole to a fixed side optical connector having a guide pin hole formed therein. A member, an insertion mechanism for moving the moving-side optical connector forward and backward with respect to the fixed-side optical connector through the optical connector housing member, and a forward-backward moving direction for the moving-side optical connector through the optical connector housing member. In the optical connector automatic coupling device comprising a moving mechanism that moves in a direction orthogonal to the optical connector and a control circuit unit that controls the operation of the inserting mechanism and the moving mechanism, the guide pin is along the forward / backward moving direction, It is movable, and is inserted into the moving side optical connector in a state where it is retracted when pushed from the front end to the rear end, and a guide for detecting the retraction of the guide pin. Dopin contact sensor is provided with the control circuit unit, said guide After pin contact sensor detects retraction of guide pins, the optical connector automatic coupling device, characterized in that stops the forward operation by the insertion mechanism. 2. An optical connector housing for housing a moving side optical connector for connecting a moving side optical connector having a guide pin fitted into the guide pin hole to a fixed side optical connector having a guide pin hole formed therein. A member, an insertion mechanism for moving the moving-side optical connector forward / backward with respect to the fixed-side optical connector via the optical connector housing member, and a forward / backward moving direction for the moving-side optical connector via the optical connector housing member. In an optical connector automatic coupling device comprising a moving mechanism for moving in a direction orthogonal to the optical connector and a control circuit unit for controlling the operation of the inserting mechanism and the moving mechanism, the optical connector accommodating member is provided with a forward / backward moving direction. A contactor is provided that is movable along the path and retracts when pushed from the front end to the rear end. When there is no external force applied to the child, the contactor has a returning mechanism that returns the contactor to the position where the tip of the contact is aligned with the tip of the guide pin. The optical connector automatic coupling device, wherein the control circuit unit suspends the movement by the movement mechanism when the guide pin insertion sensor detects the backward movement of the contact. 3. The guide pin according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a thickness of a rear end portion of the guide pin is larger than a size of a guide pin insertion hole formed in the moving side optical connector. Optical connector automatic coupling device.